Human (The Veronicas album)

Human
Studio album by
the Veronicas
Released25 June 2021 (2021-06-25)
Genre
Length38:12
LabelSony
Producer
The Veronicas chronology
Godzilla
(2021) 		Human
(2021) 		Gothic Summer
(2024)
Singles from Human
  1. "On Your Side"
    Released: 14 October 2016
  2. "Think of Me"
    Released: 29 March 2019
  3. "Biting My Tongue"
    Released: 3 July 2020
  4. "Life of the Party"
    Released: 23 April 2021
  5. "Goodbye"
    Released: 18 June 2021[3]

Human is the fifth studio album by Australian duo the Veronicas. It was released on 25 June 2021,[4] just under a month after their fourth album Godzilla,[5] which is their first album since The Veronicas (2014).[6]

Background

[edit]

Planning for the Veronicas' fourth studio album began in 2016 with the release of the single "In My Blood",[7][8] which became their third Australian number-one single. The following month in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, they confirmed they had worked with Cathy Dennis, Jim Eliot and Ollipop on an "electro-fused" album due for release in November 2016,[9] which failed to materialise.

Subsequent singles were released; "On Your Side" in 2016 and "The Only High" in 2017. The album was then meant to be released in June 2017,[10] but was announced on 13 November 2017 that they would not release any new material until 2018.[11]

The single "Think of Me" was released in March 2019[12] and was slated as the album's first single, however no further music was released in 2019 except for buzz single "Ugly" used to promote their MTV Australia reality show The Veronicas: Blood Is for Life which aired in late 2019.[13][14]

Finally, in June 2020, the album's title Human was announced, along with the single "Biting My Tongue" to be released on 3 July 2020. In an interview with Marie Claire the same month, the Veronicas provided information regarding the creative process behind Human, explaining that "although we've been writing this album over a few years, the majority of it was created in a cohesive time period. It feels like a completion of something. It feels like we had all these mini-bursts through this creation. And that whatever shift needed to happen was completed by the end of this writing phase. And each record has felt like that. But our second record and this record, most predominantly for that feeling."[15]

A fourth single with Australian rapper Allday "Life of the Party" was released on 23 April 2021 along its music video. It was directed by Ribal Hosn and features the trio portraying "lavish" outfits on the streets and at a house party, accompanied by "glitchy" VHS footage of the three performing the song.[16][17]

Human was originally announced as the duo's fourth album upon the release of "Biting My Tongue", however on 26 March 2021 the single "Godzilla" was released, with an album of the same name announced for release on 28 May, with Human to follow five weeks later.[18]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Upon the announcement of the release of the two new albums, a press release was quoted by NME reported that Godzilla "will see the Veronicas assume their 'public alter egos'", while Human "promises to explore their abilities as 'vulnerable songwriters'". A pop and electropop record, it also draws inspiration from synth-pop, trap, EDM and tropical house.[19][2][20]

Reception

[edit]

Bryget Chrisfield from Stack said "Alongside recurring be-kind-to-yourself reminders and a sidepiece's epiphany, Human serves saucy lyrical delights".[21]

Sally McMullen from Music Feeds called the album "a gentler giant of honest songwriting and melancholic dance floor perfection."[22]

Retropop Magazine. called Human a "return to form" and awarded the album four stars out of five, receiving the album more favourably to previous release Godzilla and labelling the collection 'quintessentially The Veronicas'".[23]

Sanity called it "a polished pop affair, with vulnerable songwriting" and the album "...is strong storytelling and personal unraveling".[24]

In a 4 star review, Keira Leonard from The Music said "The songs on Human are as addictive as they are truly fascinating. The twins have absolutely nailed it. With flawless musical partnerships, catchy hooks, and gutsy, heartfelt lyrics, it’s a recipe for a near-perfect pop album."[25]

Track listing

[edit]
Human track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Without You"
  • De Sá
2:55
2."Lies" (featuring Muki)
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • Sam Sakr
  • Madeline Crabtree
  • Sakr
3:31
3."Movie Star" (featuring Fr33sol and Lavva)
DNA3:16
4."LA"
  • Sakr
2:50
5."On Your Side"
  • Ollipop
  • Freddy Haggstam
2:51
6."Out of Time" (featuring Wrabel)
  • Pearson
3:49
7."Think of Me"
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • De Sá
  • Kearney-Nurse
3:04
8."Jealous"
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • De Sá
  • Kearney-Nurse
  • Crabtree
De Sá2:46
9."Biting My Tongue"
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • Musumeci
  • Egizii
DNA3:06
10."Goodbye"
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • Musumeci
  • Egizii
  • Kearney-Nurse
DNA3:34
11."Life of the Party" (featuring Allday)
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • Alexander Wildwood
  • Tomas Gaynor
  • Kearney-Nurse
  • Wrabel
  • Wildwood
  • James Angus
  • Pearson
3:23
12."Human"
  • J. Origliasso
  • L. Origliasso
  • Musumeci
  • Egizii
DNA3:07
Total length:38:12

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Human
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 5

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Leonard, Keira (27 June 2021). "The Veronicas - Human". The Music. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen (2 July 2021). "The Veronicas - Human". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  3. ^ "The Veronicas tap into their emotive side on the dancefloor-destined new single "Goodbye"". NME Australia. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Human". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Godzilla". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  6. ^ Gallagher, Alex (29 June 2020). "The Veronicas announce Human, their first album in six years". Music Feeds. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. ^ "The Veronicas Debut "In My Blood" Video On 'The Voice Australia': Watch idolator". Idolator. 26 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  8. ^ Joey Nolfi (26 June 2016). "In My Blood music video: The Veronicas are seeing red in clip for new single". Ew.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  9. ^ "The Veronicas: In My Blood singers tease new album". Entertainment Weekly. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. ^ 31 May, 20178:48am (31 May 2017). "The Veronicas release new single The Only High on Friday, twitter tease". News.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ @theveronicas (12 November 2017). "To all of our amazing supporters, we announced earlier this year we would release our 4th studio album in 2017, but due to personal circumstances out of our control, we have made the decision to hold releases till 2018. Thank you for your ongoing love. See you next year XX" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Think of Me – Single by The Veronicas". iTunes Store. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  13. ^ "For more than a year, the Veronicas didn't speak to each other". 31 May 2021.
  14. ^ "The Veronicas Are Back with New Single 'Biting My Tongue'". 3 July 2020.
  15. ^ "The Veronicas Are Headed Back To Their Roots For First Album In Six Years". Marie Claire. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  16. ^ "The Veronicas Become The Life Of The Party In New Track". Hit Network. 23 April 2021.
  17. ^ Greta Brereton (23 April 2021). "Listen to The Veronicas team up with Allday on new single "Life of the Party"". NME.
  18. ^ "'No-one will be expecting this': Veronicas reveal next move". Herald Sun. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  19. ^ "The Veronicas announce two new albums, national tour". NME. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  20. ^ Miller, Jordan (13 October 2016). "The Veronicas Do The Impossible On New Song "On Your Side"". Breathe Heavy. Retrieved 26 October 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ Chrisfield, Bryget (24 June 2021). "The Veronicas, HUMAN review". Stack. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  22. ^ McMullen, Sally (25 June 2021). "Album Reviews The Veronicas Human". Music Feeds. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  23. ^ Gotto, Connor (29 June 2021). "The Veronicas - Human". Retro Pop. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  24. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: The Veronicas - Human". Sanity (music store). 25 June 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Album Review: The Veronicas - 'Human'". The Music. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  26. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
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